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Derelicts of Dialect is the second and final studio album by New York hip hop trio 3rd Bass. It was released on June 14, 1991, through Def Jam Recordings. The recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, Greene St. Recording, and Calliope Studios, in New York City, from October 1990 to May 1991. The album was produced by 3rd Bass, Prince Paul, Sam Sever of Downtown Science, John Gamble, Dante Ross and Geeby Dajani of Stimulated Dummies, and KMD. It features guest appearances from Chubb Rock, KMD, Nice & Smooth.

The album is considered to be a critical success (explicitly not aimed toward a mainstream market), and gained publicity by featuring the surprise mainstream hit "Pop Goes the Weasel", a diss track towards Vanilla Ice. The music video features former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins as Ice. X Clan is dissed on songs such as "Herbalz in Your Mouth".

The album is noted for its variety of styles (both musically and lyrically), and demonstrates influences ranging from De La Soul to A Tribe Called Quest (both members of the then-flourishing Native Tongues movement). Several anecdotes and skits on the album are influenced by 3 Feet High and Rising.

Derelicts of Dialect peaked at number 19 in the United States, at number 46 in the UK, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 17, 1991.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Merchant of Grooves"P. NashM. Berrin3rd Bass1:37
2."Derelicts of Dialect"P. NashM. BerrinP. HustonH. AnadonJ. Burrise3rd BassPrince Paul4:10
3."Ace in the Hole" (featuring KMD)P. NashM. BerrinA. HodgeD. DumileKMD3rd Bass (co.)3:39
4."French Toast"P. NashM. BerrinR. LawsonS. Citrin3rd BassSam Sever0:49
5."Portrait of the Artist as a Hood"P. NashM. BerrinS. Citrin3rd BassSam Sever4:29
6."Pop Goes the Weasel"P. NashM. BerrinD. RossJ. GambleJ. DajaniG. BeauchampH. FuquaS. Wonder3rd BassStimulated Dummies3:55
7."Sea Vessel Soliloquy"P. NashM. BerrinR. Lawson3rd Bass0:40
8."Daddy Rich in the Land of 1210"P. NashM. BerrinR. LawsonC. HodgesD. CarterO. WrightDJ Richie Rich3:12
9."Word to the Third"P. NashM. BerrinS. CitrinG. Bartz3rd BassSam Sever5:02
10."Herbalz in Your Mouth"P. NashM. BerrinP. HustonR. ZimmermanPrince Paul3rd Bass (co.)4:20
11."Al'z A-B-Cee'z"P. NashM. BerrinA. BryanP. Breitenfeld3rd Bass1:51
12."No Master Plan No Master Race"P. NashM. BerrinS. Citrin3rd BassSam Sever4:47
13."Come In"P. NashM. BerrinP. HustonJ. MoorePrince Paul3rd Bass (co.)3:07
14."No Static at All"P. NashM. BerrinP. HustonT. McCallPrince Paul3rd Bass (co.)3:44
15."Eye Jammie"P. NashM. BerrinS. Citrin3rd Bass1:05
16."Microphone Techniques" (featuring Nice & Smooth)P. NashM. BerrinD. BarnesG. MaysS. CitrinA. Green3rd BassSam Sever4:59
17."Problem Child"P. NashM. BerrinS. CitrinD. Roeser3rd BassSam Sever4:30
18."3 Strikes 5000"P. NashM. BerrinR. LawsonD. RossJ. GambleJ. Dajani3rd BassStimulated Dummies4:03
19."Kick Em in the Grill" (featuring Chubb Rock)P. NashM. BerrinR. SimpsonD. RossJ. GambleJ. DajaniStimulated Dummies2:37
20."Green Eggs and Swine"P. NashM. BerrinP. Huston3rd BassPrince Paul4:45
21."Derelicts of Dialect" (SD50 Remix)P. NashM. BerrinH. AnadonJ. Burrise3rd BassPrince Paul4:13
22."Pop Goes the Weasel" (Radio Edit)P. NashM. BerrinD. RossJ. GambleJ. Dajani3rd BassDante Ross (co.)John Gamble (co.)Geeby Dajani (co.)3:47
23."M.C. Disagree and the Re-Animator" (CD only)D. KealyJ. Mertz0:49
24."Check Yourself" (LP only)
Total length:82:11

Personnel

  • Michael Berrin – vocals, producer, percussion
  • Peter Nash – vocals, producer, accordion
  • Richard Lawson – scratches, producer
  • KMD – featured artist & producer (track 3)
  • Richard Simpson – featured artist (track 19)
  • Greg Mays – featured artist (track 16)
  • Darryl Barnes – featured artist (track 16)
  • John Gamble – producer, engineering, remixing
  • Dante Ross – producer, remixing
  • John Dajani – producer, remixing
  • Paul Huston – producer, cymbals
  • Sam Citrin – producer, percussion
  • Christopher Shaw – engineering, keyboards
  • Allen Title – saxophone, horns
  • Kevin Reynolds – engineering
  • Mike Teelucksingh – engineering
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Michael Lavine – photography

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak position
Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) 118 UK Albums (OCC) 46 US Billboard 200 19 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 10Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 76
Australian Albums (ARIA)118
UK Albums (OCC)46
US Billboard 20019
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)10
Chart (1991)Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)76

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)Gold500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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